Category: Newcastle News

A man is in a critical condition following a single-vehicle crash in the state’s Hunter region yesterday.
About 7.50pm (Thursday 2 April 2020), emergency services were called to Lambs Valley Road, Lambs Valley, about 35km east of Singleton, after reports of a serious crash.
Police believe the Toyota Starlet was travelling south when it left the roadway and struck a tree. A passing motorist found the crashed car and called for assistance.
The 26-year-old male driver was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Maitland Airport, where he was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.
Officers from Traffic & Highway Patrol established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
Inquiries continue.

The final section of Newcastle’s former rail corridor has been purchased for $2 million by City of Newcastle in a decision which will strengthen the City’s cycling infrastructure and support the ongoing revitalisation of the CBD.
Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) agreed to sell the former rail corridor site, known as Rail Bridge Row, to the City following a competitive public Expression of Interest process.
The lot at 280 Hunter Street stretches from Brown Street to near the intersection of Darby and Hunter Street and is opposite the Crown Street light rail stop. Council approved the purchase at its meeting last week in recognition of the site’s strategic significance.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said City of Newcastle’s Expression of Interest highlighted the importance of the site as a junction between King St, Hunter St and the Foreshore, providing improved connectivity and safe cycle routes throughout the City.
“We envisage this site will eventually be used for a cycleway connection, as well as a mixed development building that could include ground-floor retail, affordable housing for key workers and commercial uses,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Acquiring the Rail Bridge Row site aligns with our vision to bring people to the city centre by strengthening connections between the city and waterfront, creating employment opportunities, providing more public space and delivering better transport.
“The purchase will allow us to deliver a much needed, east-west commuter cycleway and will be followed in coming months by presenting an East-West cycleway concept plan to the Newcastle Cycling Working Party.
“Down the track, subject to consultation and approvals, the site at 280 Hunter Street could also allow the City to deliver affordable accommodation for key workers, such as teachers, police officers, firefighters and nurses.”

City of Newcastle’s Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP) team has been recognised as essential and will work remotely through any Government-directed lockdown in response to COVID-19 in order to meet the Local Government Minister’s shortened deadline of 30 June 2020.
Coastal Councils across NSW are completing Coastal Management Programs, long term plans for managing risks like erosion and sea-level rise, under the Coastal Management Act 2016, with a deadline in place for December 2021.
Despite the challenges brought by COVID-19, The Lord Mayor met with the Stockton Community Liaison Group via Zoom as work continues towards to the Ministerial direction to have a CMP for Stockton by the 30 June 2020.
“With projects on hold or delayed across the state there had been some concern from the Stockton community about how COVID-19 would affect our ability to deliver a CMP by the shortened deadline,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We reiterated today that despite the enormous challenges we’re facing as a community, Stockton remains a key priority for City of Newcastle. The team delivering our CMP will continue to work as an essential service should the Federal or State Government direct the community into lockdown.”
The Lord Mayor said Stockton’s CMP was expected to focus primarily on sand nourishment along with the protection of public and private assets.
“The message is clear from the Stockton community. Return a sandy beach that locals and visitors can enjoy, and manage our natural coastal environment in a way that reduces risk and keeps the community’s way of life.
“Our Stockton team is reviewing all previous options however, there’s really only one way to deliver on this call from the community and that’s to complete a CMP focussed primarily on beach amenity and reducing risk, that will meet the demands of the State Government’s certification requirements.
“We will be looking for community feedback in mid-May during the public exhibition period.”
The draft Stockton CMP will be placed on 28-day Public Exhibition from Wednesday 13 May providing the community an opportunity to have their say on the long-term plan to manage coastal erosion. Due to restrictions on public gatherings caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, City of Newcastle will continue to engage online and via the post/mail.

A man and a boy missing from the Hunter region have been located safe and well.
The 57-year-old man and four-year-old boy were located in Moree safe and well about 4am today (Wednesday 1 April 2020).
Police would like to thank the media and community for their assistance.

A man has been charged, following an investigation into an alleged aggravated break and enter in Lake Macquarie earlier this year.
Police have been told about 5.15am on Sunday 12 January 2020, a 48-year-old man had arranged to meet a woman he had interacted with online, at a home on Government Road, Cardiff.
Shortly after her arrival, two men allegedly forced entry into the front door, armed with an ornamental sword and a metal pipe, before assaulting the man.
The two men and the woman allegedly stole $650 cash and fled the scene in a vehicle, driven by a third man.
The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital suffering head injuries, including a fractured skull and a severe laceration.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended, established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following inquiries, a 25-year-old woman was arrested in Gateshead and taken to Belmont Police Station on Sunday 12 January 2020. She was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm and possess prohibited drug. She remains before the courts.
On Wednesday 19 February 2020, detectives arrested a 34-year-old man at Rankin Park. He was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm and refused bail to appear before Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 15 April 2020.
A 19-year-old man was arrested on Friday 27 March 2020 at Wangi Wangi and taken to Toronto Police Station where he was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm. He was refused bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on Friday 3 April 2020.
Yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), a 23-year-old man was arrested by Lake Macquarie’s Target Action Group in Windale and taken to Belmont Police Station.
The man was charged with special aggravated break and enter and commit serious indictable offence – inflict grievous bodily harm.
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local court today (Thursday 2 April 2020).

A Newcastle business owner is the latest to receive a $5000 infringement notice under the Public Health Act NSW (2010), after continuing to receive customers in contravention of a ministerial direction.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended a remedial massage business on Harrison Street, Cardiff, about 4pm yesterday (Wednesday 1 April 2020), following information it was continuing to operate.
Police observed several customers enter and leave the premises.
The operator, a 57-year-old woman, was spoken to and issued a $5,000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction (Section 7/8/9 – COVID-19).
Since Tuesday 17 March 2020, police have issued two Court Attendance Notices for Breaching the Public Health Act.
Crime Stoppers has received 3,200 reports related to COVID-19 since Tuesday 17 March 2020, and police have conducted more than 3900 compliance checks across NSW.
Additionally, officers have now handed out 30 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for failing to comply with a ministerial direction under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW). Of these, 27 were issued to individuals, and three to business owners.
NSWPF Commissioner Mick Fuller will personally review every Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) issued in relation to alleged breaches of Public Health Orders, to ensure the issuing of such infringements is the most appropriate course of action.
Commissioner Fuller will also be reviewing the wider application of this new legislation daily to ensure best practice across the board.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has cautiously welcomed the Federal Government’s support package for regional airlines.
Ms Claydon said she had written to the Deputy Prime Minister, and had met with him personally, to stress the urgent need to deliver support into the Hunter-based regional airline FlyPelican.
“Regretfully, the coronavirus crisis has seen passenger numbers and bookings  across the aviation industry plummet by as much 90 per cent, leaving formerly vibrant and profitable businesses including FlyPelican hanging by a thread,” Ms Claydon said.
“While we still need to see the details of what this package will mean for individual operators, it seems to be a very positive development.”
Ms Claydon reiterated the importance of local airlines to regional economies.
“Airlines aren’t like other businesses. They play a key role in connecting families, friends and communities, while also promoting trade and supporting essential services. Importantly, they help drive economic growth across our vast nation,” Ms Claydon said.
“I have every confidence that, with the right support, FlyPelican will be in a strong position to resume services quickly and help drive the regional economic recovery that will be so desperately needed when the COVID-19 crisis has passed.”
Ms Claydon said while the support package for companies was welcome, workers still need urgent assistance.
“There was nothing in the regional airline package to ensure that workers are retained.
“The Government must deliver wage subsidies to ensure workers remain connected to their employer and airlines can ramp up their operations quickly when the crisis recedes.”

A man will face court today charged over an alleged pursuit in Lake Macquarie.
About 3pm yesterday (Monday 30 March 2020), officers from the Lake Macquarie Police District Target Action Group were patrolling the Belmont North area when they saw a blue Ford Falcon – which had been reported stolen from Forster last week – outside a property on Leicester Street.
Officers conducted inquiries at the nearby homes and the surrounding area before a 32-year-old man allegedly got in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and sped from police.
Police initiated a pursuit which continued through several streets in Belmont before the vehicle travelled northbound onto the Pacific Highway at Gateshead, reaching speeds of around 110km/h in a signposted 60km/h zone.
The driver continued north, allegedly at speed, through a red light before the vehicle came to a stop at the intersection of the Pacific Highway and South Street, Windale.
Police arrested a 32-year-old man and took him to Belmont Police Station.
He has been charged with police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously, and drive whilst unlicensed.
He has been refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court today (Tuesday 31 March 2020).

City of Newcastle reiterates the Prime Minister’s advice that people should not leave home other than for essential shopping, medical care, exercise or work/education that cannot be done remotely.
City of Newcastle has closed all beaches and outdoor public areas such as the ocean baths, skateparks, playgrounds and exercise equipment following the Federal Government’s overnight directive limiting public gatherings to two people. These closures include Crown Land reserves such as the Bogey Hole.
Beaches have red flags up with lifeguards on duty monitoring public safety. Police will be notified if people ignore the lifeguards’ advice to leave the beach.
Onsite signage is being effected today to advise the community that public spaces are closed to limit the spread of COVID-19.
While the government advice allows outdoor exercise to continue, City of Newcastle stresses the importance of ensuring boot camps are limited to two people and that no more than two people gather in public. This includes along popular pathways such as the Bathers Way. Further, people must comply with social distancing which requires 1.5m space between people.
City of Newcastle has closed public spaces including but not limited to:

• Beaches
• Ocean Baths including changerooms
• Playgrounds
• BBQs and shelters
• Fenced off-leash dog parks.
• Skateparks
• Exercise equipment.

NSW Police is the enforcement authority for Public Health Orders. Contact Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
For more information on the City’s response visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

City of Newcastle is providing financial hardship support for businesses and residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a $5.5 million Community and Economic Resilience package.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said local businesses are facing supply chain issues and substantially reduced economic activity with the unemployment rate likely to continue to rise as COVID-19 continues to spread.
“We understand it is an extremely challenging time for many people in our community so it’s important City of Newcastle does everything possible to support our community’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The City will provide financial hardship support for residents and business owners to develop payment plans for their rates, with interest penalties waived until 30 June 2021.
“The next rates instalment is not due until 31 May, so people experiencing financial hardship have plenty of time to contact City of Newcastle to organise a payment plan.
“The payment plan options will be determined on an individual basis after consultation with a Debt Recovery officer. If you are already on a payment plan, you will have the interest waived for 12 months.”
Local businesses and residents will receive cash flow relief with a 50 per cent discount given on rent for all City-owned buildings and land for the June and September quarter.
“This will reduce financial pressure for dozens of local small businesses and community organisations,” Cr Nelmes said.
“In addition, the package focuses on stimulating the Newcastle economy through a ‘buy local’ commitment. Businesses within the Newcastle Local Government Area will be favoured with the usual local weighting assessment of 10 per cent increased wherever possible.”
“We will also fast track our invoice payment to provide improved cash-flow for businesses and to keep the economy ticking.
“City of Newcastle has implemented a range of flexible approaches to allow essential businesses and service providers to operate responsively to the city’s changing needs in line with the latest advice from the NSW Government and Federal Government. This includes flexible truck delivery times for supermarkets and extended operating hours for doctors’ surgeries.
“Due to the additional challenges posed by COVID-19, we have waived fees on library fees and have committed to hold the City’s hourly parking rate for 12 months.”
For further information on City of Newcastle’s response to COVID-19 please see newcastle.nsw.gov.au/COVID-19